U.S. patent application number 09/766983 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-02 for simulated gun.
This patent application is currently assigned to KONAMI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Nishio, Koichi, Tamura, Yuji, Ueda, Satoshi.
Application Number | 20010010221 09/766983 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18541742 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010010221 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nishio, Koichi ; et
al. |
August 2, 2001 |
Simulated gun
Abstract
A simulated gun for use with a disk-shaped or substantially
disk-shaped flying member made of a metal as a bullet for
discharging it forward, the simulated gun comprising: a gunbarrel
having the hollow whose cross section along a direction normal to a
flying direction of the flying member is vertically long and has
vertical and horizontal dimensions set substantially equal to the
diameter and the thickness of the flying member, respectively, and
a flying member hitting position being set at the inner back
position of the gunbarrel; a hammer provided at the inner back
position of the gunbarrel, reciprocatingly movable between an
advanced position where it hits the rear part of the flying member
set at the flying member hitting position and a retracted position
which is located in a rearward from the advance position, and
adapted to hit the flying member set at the flying member hitting
position, and a trigger for reciprocatingly moving the hammer.
Inventors: |
Nishio, Koichi; (Kobe-shi,
JP) ; Tamura, Yuji; (Akashi-shi, JP) ; Ueda,
Satoshi; (Kobe-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jordan and Hamburg
122 East 42nd Street
New York
NY
10168
US
|
Assignee: |
KONAMI CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
18541742 |
Appl. No.: |
09/766983 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41J 7/04 20130101; F41B
7/003 20130101; F41B 7/08 20130101; F41J 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/16 |
International
Class: |
F41B 007/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 20, 2000 |
JP |
2000-14259 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A simulated gun for use with a disk-shaped or substantially
disk-shaped flying member made of a metal as a bullet for
discharging it forward, the simulated gun comprising: a gunbarrel
having a hollow whose cross section along a direction normal to a
flying direction of the flying member is vertically long and has
vertical and horizontal dimensions set substantially equal to the
diameter and the thickness of the flying member, respectively, and
a flying member hitting position being set at the inner back
position of the gunbarrel; a hammer provided at the inner back
position of the gunbarrel, reciprocatingly movable between an
advanced position where it hits the rear part of the flying member
set at the flying member hitting position and a retracted position
which is located in a rearward from the advance position, and
adapted to hit the flying member set at the flying member hitting
position, and a trigger for reciprocatingly moving the hammer.
2. The simulated gun according to claim 1, further comprising a
flying member inserting portion provided obliquely upward from the
flying member hitting position and having a slit-shaped opening, a
pair of stoppers adapted to receive the flying member to be used
and inserted through the flying member inserting portion and spaced
apart by a distance smaller than the diameter of the flying member,
and a discharge portion provided below the stoppers for discharging
the smaller-diameter flying members not to be used to the
outside.
3. The simulated gun according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair
of stoppers has one end thereof supported while the other end
thereof is unsupported, and further comprising a flying member
moving unit for moving the flying member in a standing posture by
the pair of stoppers and for dropping the flying member from the
ends of the stoppers to set it in the flying member hitting
position.
4. The simulated gun according to claim 2, wherein each of the pair
of stoppers has one end thereof supported while the other end
thereof is unsupported, and further comprising a flying member
moving unit for moving the flying member in a standing posture by
the pair of stoppers and for dropping the flying member from the
ends of the stoppers to set it in the flying member hitting
position.
5. The simulated gun according to claim 1, further comprising an
insertion preventing means provided near the flying member
inserting portion for preventing the insertion of large-diameter
flying members not to be used.
6. The simulated gun according to claim 2, further comprising an
insertion preventing means provided near the flying member
inserting portion for preventing the insertion of large-diameter
flying members not to be used.
7. The simulated gun according to claim 3, further comprising an
insertion preventing means provided near the flying member
inserting portion for preventing the insertion of large-diameter
flying members not to be used.
8. The simulated gun according to claim 2, wherein the pair of
stoppers are set such that a plurality of flying members are placed
thereon.
9. The simulated gun according to claim 3, wherein the pair of
stoppers are set such that a plurality of flying members are placed
thereon.
10. The simulated gun according to claim 4, wherein the pair of
stoppers are set such that a plurality of flying members are placed
thereon.
11. The simulated gun according to claim 1, wherein an elastic
member for hitting the flying member is so mounted on the hammer as
to hit the rear part of the flying member set at the flying member
hitting position.
12. The simulated gun according to claim 2, wherein an elastic
member for hitting the flying member is so mounted on the hammer as
to hit the rear part of the flying member set at the flying member
hitting position.
13. The simulated gun according to claim 3, wherein an elastic
member for hitting the flying member is so mounted on the hammer as
to hit the rear part of the flying member set at the flying member
hitting position.
14. The simulated gun according to claim 4, wherein an elastic
member for hitting the flying member is so mounted on the hammer as
to hit the rear part of the flying member set at the flying member
hitting position.
15. The simulated gun according to claim 5, wherein an elastic
member for hitting the flying member is so mounted on the hammer as
to hit the rear part of the flying member set at the flying member
hitting position.
16. A simulated gun for use with a disk-shaped or substantially
disk-shaped flying member made of a metal as a bullet for
discharging it forward, the simulated gun comprising: a gunbarrel
formed with a hollow portion whose cross section along a direction
normal to a flying direction of the flying member is substantially
a rectangle having a vertical side and horizontal side, the
dimensions of which are set substantially equal to the diameter and
the thickness of the flying member respectively, and a flying
member hitting position being set at the inner back position of the
gunbarrel; a hammer provided at the inner back position of the
gunbarrel, reciprocatingly movable between an advanced position
where it hits the rear part of the flying member set at the flying
member hitting position and a retracted position which is located
in a rearward from the advance position, and adapted to hit the
flying member set at the flying member hitting position, and a
trigger for reciprocatingly moving the hammer.
17. The simulated gun according to claim 16, further comprising a
flying member moving unit for moving the flying member supported by
the pair of stoppers in a lateral direction to drop the flying
member from the ends of the stoppers to set it in the flying member
hitting position.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a novel simulated gun for
discharging token such as coins or medals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
[0002] A generally known simulated gun is such that a bullet made
of cork is loaded at a muzzle and discharged toward a target such
as a premium in front to hit it.
[0003] However, in the case of shooting by the above known
simulated gun, the bullet itself is relatively light and its
trajectory is easy to deviate from a target position while it is
flying. Even if the bullet hits the target, it is often by
accident, but not by a result based on a shooting ability of a game
player. Therefore, the conventional shooting game tends to lack
ingenuity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In view of the problems residing in the prior art, an object
of the present invention is to provide a shooting game machine
capable of improving the ingenuity of a game.
[0005] In order to fulfill the above object, a simulated gun for
use with a disk-shaped or substantially disk-shaped flying member
made of a metal as a bullet for discharging, according to the
present invention, comprising: a gunbarrel having a hollow whose
cross section along a direction normal to a flying direction of the
flying member is vertically long and has vertical and horizontal
dimensions set substantially equal to the diameter and the
thickness of the flying member, respectively, and a flying member
hitting position being set at the inner back position of the
gunbarrel; a hammer provided at the inner back position of the
gunbarrel, reciprocatingly movable between an advanced position
where it hits the rear part of the flying member set at the flying
member hitting position and a retracted position which is located
in a rearward from the advance position, and adapted to hit the
flying member set at the flying member hitting position, and a
trigger for reciprocatingly moving the hammer.
[0006] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the
following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external
construction of a shooting game machine in which a simulated gun
according to one embodiment of the invention is applied,
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of the shooting game machine of FIG.
1,
[0009] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the shooting game machine of FIG.
1,
[0010] FIG. 4 is a section along A-A of FIG. 3,
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the external
construction of the shooting game machine of FIG. 1 without a
simulated gun,
[0012] FIG. 6 is a front view of the simulated gun provided in the
shooting game machine of FIG. 1,
[0013] FIG. 7 is a section along B-B of FIG. 6,
[0014] FIGS. 8A and 8B are an enlarged section of an upper part of
the simulated gun of FIG. 7 and an enlarged section showing the
upper part of the simulated gun of FIG. 7 with a maintenance cover
as its part detached, respectively,
[0015] FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are a front view, a plan view and a left
side view showing an essential portion of the simulated gun,
respectively,
[0016] FIGS. 10A and 10B are a perspective view showing the
essential portion of the simulated gun when viewed in a direction A
of FIG. 9B and a perspective view showing the essential portion of
the simulated gun when viewed in a direction B of FIG. 9B,
respectively,
[0017] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the
essential portion of the simulated gun provided in the shooting
game machine of FIG. 1,
[0018] FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C are a front view, a plan view and a
left side view corresponding to FIGS. 9A to 9C and showing the
essential portion of the simulated gun when a token is set in a
token hitting position C,
[0019] FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views corresponding to
FIGS. 10A and 10B and showing the essential portion of the
simulated gun when viewed in a direction A of FIG. 12B and when
viewed in a direction B of FIG. 12B with the token set in the token
hitting position C, respectively,
[0020] FIG. 14 is a front view showing a token hitting portion of
the simulated gun provided in the shooting game machine of FIG.
1,
[0021] FIG. 15 is a left side view showing the token hitting
portion of the simulated gun provided in the shooting game machine
of FIG. 1,
[0022] FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views showing a portion of
a token push-out portion near a photosensor in the simulated gun
provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1 when a bar is not
detected and when it is detected, respectively,
[0023] FIGS. 17A and 17B are front views showing a portion near a
trigger of the simulated gun provided in the shooting game machine
of FIG. 1 before the trigger is pulled and when it is pulled,
respectively,
[0024] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a main unit
provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,
[0025] FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing a
construction of mounting interfering plates and target assemblies
on the main unit and then mounting an identical cover,
[0026] FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C are a plan view, a front view and a
left side view of the main unit shown in FIG. 18, respectively,
[0027] FIG. 21 is a rear view of the main unit shown in FIG.
18,
[0028] FIGS. 22A and 22B are a front view and a right side view
showing a target portion provided in the shooting game machine of
FIG. 1, respectively,
[0029] FIGS. 23A and 23B are a front view and a plan view showing
the target assembly (without a supporting member) provided in the
shooting game machine of FIG. 1, respectively,
[0030] FIGS. 24A and 24B are a rear view and a left side view
showing the target assembly (without the supporting member)
provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1, respectively,
[0031] FIGS. 25A and 25B are a front view showing the target
assembly (without the supporting member and a target) provided in
the shooting game machine of FIG. 1 and a section along J-J of FIG.
25A, respectively,
[0032] FIGS. 26A and 26B are a left side view in section showing
the internal construction of a lower box provided in the shooting
game machine of FIG. 1 and a right side view in section showing the
internal construction of an upper box provided in the shooting game
machine of FIG. 1, respectively,
[0033] FIG. 27 is a section showing a token detecting section of
the lower box provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,
[0034] FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the construction of a
control unit provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,
[0035] FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing a demonstration mode control
executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,
[0036] FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a token detection control
executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,
[0037] FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing a target movement control
executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,
[0038] FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing a game mode control executed
in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,
[0039] FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing a token discharging mode
control executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,
[0040] FIGS. 34A and 34B are a flow chart showing a token hit
processing mode control executed in the shooting game machine of
FIG. 1, and
[0041] FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing a ticket issuing mode
control executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
[0042] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the invention is specifically
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external
construction of a shooting game machine in which a simulated gun
according to one embodiment of the invention is applied, FIG. 2 is
a front view of the shooting game machine, FIG. 3 is a plan view of
the shooting game machine, and FIG. 4 is a section along A-A of
FIG. 3.
[0044] This shooting game machine 1 is provided with a casing 2 and
a simulated gun (hereinafter, merely "gun") 50 according to one
embodiment of the present invention. The casing 20 is formed with a
window 3a in its ceiling surface, windows 3b, 3c in its opposite
side surfaces, and a window 3d in its front surface. Transparent
plate members 4a, 4b, 4c made of, e.g. an acrylic resin are fitted
in the windows 3a to 3c. A transparent plate member 5 made of, e.g.
an acrylic resin is also fitted in the front window 3d. This plate
member 5 is formed with, for example, a substantially rectangular
opening 5a, and a muzzle inserting member 40 is mounted in the
opening 5a.
[0045] Inside the casing 2, two display devices 6a, 6b are provided
on a rear surface 2a, the upper display device 6a being mainly
adapted to display a score every time shooting is made and the
lower display device 6b being mainly adapted to display a jackpot
value. A plurality of (four in the shown embodiment) light sources
for electric decorations, e.g. lamps 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d are provided on
the rear surface 2a. Inside the casing 2 are provided one screening
portion 10 and two target units 20, 30. The screening portion 10 is
provided at a front position, the target unit 20 at a middle
position and the target unit 30 at a rear position.
[0046] On the outer front surface of the casing 2 are provided a
proximity sensor 8, a loudspeaker 8A and a ticket discharge opening
9. A ticket issuing device (ticket dispenser) 9A is provided inside
the ticket discharge opening 9 (see FIG. 4), and a ticket dispensed
from the ticket issuing device 9A is discharged through the ticket
discharge opening 9.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the shooting game
machine without the gun 50. As shown in FIG. 5, the aforementioned
muzzle inserting member 40 is mounted on the plate member 5 and
includes two disk-shaped plate members 41, 42, and four coupling
members 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d for coupling the plate members 41, 42 to
each other while spacing them at a specified distance.
[0048] The two plate members 41,42 are so provided as to hold the
plate member 5 therebetween and are formed with slit-shaped muzzle
insertion holes 41a, 42a. The positions and orientation of the
muzzle insertion holes 41a, 42a are aligned with their longitudinal
directions extending in vertical direction. The four coupling
members 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d are provided at four corner positions of
a rectangle, and are movable to up, down, left or right or in any
desired direction within a specified range until they come into
contact with the inner edge of the opening 5a while keeping
defining the same rectangular.
[0049] A gun mounting portion 60 is mounted on the casing 2 before
the plate member 5, and includes a gun mounting plate 61 inside the
casing 2, an opening 62 formed above the gun mounting plate 61, an
outer frame 63 mounted to close the opening 62, and a cover 64
mounted to close an opening 63a formed in an upper part of the
outer frame 63 as shown in FIG. 4. The cover 64 is movable along
the upper surface of the outer frame 63 and is formed with an
opening 64a in its portion.
[0050] The gun 50 is mounted on the gun mounting plate 61 of the
gun mounting portion 60 with the muzzle 51 inserted through the
muzzle insertion holes 41a, 42a, and a supporting portion 52
provided at the bottom part of the gun 50 is inserted through the
opening 64a of the cover 64.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a front view showing the gun 50; FIG. 7 is a
section along B-B of FIG. 6; FIGS. 8A and 8B are an enlarged
section of an upper part of the gun 50 of FIG. 7 and an enlarged
section showing the upper part of the gun with a maintenance cover
as its part detached, respectively; FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are a front
view, a plan view and a left side view showing an essential portion
of the gun 50, respectively; FIGS. 10A and 10B are a perspective
view showing the essential portion of the gun 50 when viewed in a
direction A of FIG. 9B and a perspective view showing the essential
portion of the gun 50 when viewed in a direction B of FIG. 9B,
respectively; and FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing
the essential portion of the gun 50. Further, FIGS. 12A, 12B and
12C are a front view, a plan view and a left side view
corresponding to FIGS. 9A to 9C and showing the essential portion
of the gun 50 when a token is set in a token hitting position C;
and FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views corresponding to FIGS.
10A and 10B and showing the essential portion of the gun 50 when
viewed in a direction A of FIG. 12B and a perspective view showing
the essential portion of the simulated gun when viewed in a
direction B of FIG. 12B with the token set in the token hitting
position C.
[0052] This gun 50 is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, comprised of a
fixed portion 53 provided at its bottom, a supporting portion 54
supported on the fixed portion 53 and a simulated gun main body
(hereinafter, merely "gun main body") 55 provided on the supporting
portion 54. The fixed portion 53 includes a fixed member 53a fixed
to the gun mounting plate 61, a vertical shaft 53b standing on the
fixed member 53a, and a rotary member 53c rotatably provided on a
horizontal plane about the shaft 53b. Two bearings 53d, 53e are
provided between the shaft 53b and the rotary member 53c.
[0053] A shaft 53f is horizontally provided at an upper part of the
fixed portion 53, and the supporting portion 54 is rotatably
mounted on the shaft 53f about a horizontal axis with its rotatable
range specified by stoppers 53g, 53h provided at the opposite sides
with respect to its rotating direction.
[0054] The gun main body 55 includes a token inserting portion 56
at its upper end as shown in FIG. 8A. The token inserting portion
56 is comprised of a token insertion guide 56a having a slit, and
an insertion hole 56b. In the token insertion guide 56a, a slanted
surface is formed at a side where the slit is formed, so that a
token 61 can be easily introduced to the slit by the slanted
surface. The insertion hole 56b is provided with two facing members
57, 58 in the thickness direction of the token 61 as shown in FIG.
10, and two restricting members 70, 71 for restricting the diameter
of the token 61 are between the facing members 57, 58. The
restricting members 70, 71 have a thickness slightly larger than
the thickness of the token 61, and a spacing between the facing
members 57, 58 is equal to the thickness of the restricting members
70, 71 so that the token 61 can fall without any problem.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 11, the facing members 57, 58 have slanted
surfaces 57a, 58a which are inclined outwardly toward their top,
and vertical surfaces 57b, 58b are formed below the slanted
surfaces 57a, 58a. The restricting member 70 is comprised of a wide
portion 70a, a slanted portion 70b and a narrow portion 70c from
its upper end, whereas the other restricting member 71 has a
constant width. A spacing L between the wide portion 70a and the
restricting member 71 is slightly longer than the diameter of the
token 61 so as to prevent tokens having a specified diameter or
larger from being inserted. The restricting member 71 is mounted
while being tightly held between the facing members 57, 58, whereas
the restricting member 70 is mounted on the facing member 57 by
fastening unillustrated screws through oblong holes 57c of the
facing member 57, and the spacing L can be changed by changing the
position (horizontal position) with respect to the oblong holes
57c. Stoppers 72a, 72b are mounted at bottom positions of the
facing member 57. Specifically, the stopper 72a is mounted on the
restricting member 70 and the stopper 72b is mounted on the facing
member 57 via the restricting member 71 by fastening a screw
through a round hole 57d. In other words, each of the stoppers 72a,
72b has one end thereof supported on the facing member 57 while the
other end thereof unsupported (i.e., a cantilever type support).
Further, the upper surfaces of the stoppers 72a, 72b are smooth
surfaces free from projections or the like.
[0056] A spacing L1 between the stoppers 72a, 72b is set shorter
than the diameter of the tokens 61 to stop the fall of specified
tokens 61 while allowing tokens 61 having a diameter shorter than
the specified tokens 61 and not to be used to fall. A plurality of
(two in this example) tokens 61 can be inserted onto the stoppers
72a, 72b. It should be noted that the insertion of the tokens
having the specified diameter or larger may be prevented by
providing the token inserting device 56 with slits separately
prepared for tokens of different diameters.
[0057] Below the facing members 57, 58 is, as shown in FIG. 8B,
provided a discharging member 83 forming a discharge path 73a for
discharging smaller tokens not to be used to the outside. This
discharge member 73 is integrally provided on a maintenance cover
55a detachable from the gun main body 55. Thus, the smaller tokens
not to be used are discharged to the outside via the discharge
member 73.
[0058] A token detecting sensor 74 is mounted on a horizontally
extending portion 57y of the facing member 57. The sensor 74 is
comprised of a sensor member 74a, a mount member 74b and a
reflection type optical sensor 74 provided on the sensor member
74a. This optical sensor 74c has its sensing direction oriented
toward an opening 57h as shown in FIG. 10B and detects the
insertion of the token 61.
[0059] A gunbarrel mount hole 57e is formed at a side (left side of
FIG. 11) of the facing member 57, and a gunbarrel 75 is mounted in
the gunbarrel mount hole 57e by a screw (not shown). The gunbarrel
75 includes two substantially rectangular guide plates 75a, 75b,
and token guide groove forming members 75c, 75d having a
substantially triangular shape and provided between the guide
plates 75a and 75b. The lower surface of the upper forming member
75c and the upper surface of the lower forming member 75d are
spaced apart by a distance L2 slightly longer than the diameter of
the token 61 over the entire length thereof. The thickness of the
forming members 75c, 75d is slightly larger than that of the token
61, and the muzzle 51 is defined between leading ends 75c' and 75d'
of the forming members 75c, 75d. The lower forming member 75d has a
substantially triangular shape whose width increases toward the
side of the muzzle 51, whereas the upper forming member 75c has a
substantially triangular shape whose width decreases toward the
side of the muzzle 51. The gunbarrel 75 is mounted in the gunbarrel
mount hole 57e with the two guide plates 75a, 75b made integral to
each other by unillustrated screws or the like while holding the
forming members 75c, 75d therebetween. A longitudinally long hollow
(longitudinal hole) enclosed by the guide plates 75a, 75b and the
forming members 75c, 75d substantially serves an interior of the
gunbarrel for discharging the token.
[0060] Mount holes 57f, 57g are formed at a side (right side in
FIG. 11) of the facing member 57, and a token push-out portion 76
is mounted in the mount holes 57f, 57g. The token push-out portion
76 includes a mount piece 76a to be mounted in the mount hole 57g
and a vertical shaft 76b having its upper part supported on the
mount piece 76a and having its lower part mounted in the mount hole
57f.
[0061] The token push-out portion 76 also includes a token push-out
arm 76c having a pushing portion 76d, and a token pressing member
76e, and the token push-out arm 76c and the token pressing member
76e are integral to each other. This integral unit of the token
push-out arm 76c and the token pressing member 76e is rotatably
supported on the vertical shaft 76b with the vertical shaft 76b
inserted through mount holes 76i, 76j formed in the token push-out
arm 76c and with bushes 76f, 76g mounted in the mount holes 76i,
76j from the outside (see FIGS. 9A and 11). The token push-out arm
76c and the token pressing member 76e are provided at the outer
side and the inner side of the facing member 57 with the facing
member 58 therebetween (see FIG. 9B). A coil spring 76h for
returning the token push-out arm 76c is provided between mounting
pieces 76k, 76m in which the mount holes 76i, 76j are formed. The
vertical shaft 76b is inserted through the inside of the coil
spring 76h, and the opposite ends of the coil spring 76h projecting
outward are held in contact with the token push-out arm 76c and the
facing member 57 which are opposed to each other. The coil spring
76h biases a pushing force to the token push-out arm 76c in a
direction of arrow E so that the token push-out arm 76c is brought
closer to the facing member 57 (see FIG. 9B).
[0062] As shown in FIG. 9A, the token push-out arm 76c is provided
with a suspending piece 76n, with which a bar 77b mounted on a
hitting hammer 77a forming a token hitting portion 77 to be
described later for dropping the token 61 can be brought into and
out of contact. FIG. 9A shows a contact state while FIG. 12A shows
a non-contact state.
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 14 (front view) and 15 (left side view),
the token hitting portion 77 includes a horizontal shaft 77c
secured to the hitting hammer 77a, and the horizontal shaft 77c is
rotatably supported on bearings 77d, 77e mounted on a lower frame
55b of the gun main body 55. A bevel gear 77f is secured to the
horizontal shaft 77c and is engaged with another bevel gear 77g,
which is secured to a rotatable shaft 77i of a rotary solenoid
77h.
[0064] Accordingly, as the rotatable shaft 77i of the rotary
solenoid 77h rotates, the bevel gear 77g is rotated, which then
causes the bevel gear 77f to rotate, thereby rotating the hitting
hammer 77a to the right of FIG. 14 via the horizontal shaft 77c
within a specified range. As a result, the hitting hammer 77a is
retracted from a token hitting position C (corresponding to an
advanced position).
[0065] Thereafter, an angle formed between a retracted position and
the token hitting position C (advanced position) is, for example,
400. Thereafter, the hitting hammer 77a is returned forward by the
reverse rotation of the rotary solenoid 77h. The rotatable shaft
77i of the rotary solenoid 77h may be directly coupled to the
horizontal shaft 77c. In the case of such a construction, the bevel
gears 77f and 77g may be omitted.
[0066] A bar 77n is mounted on the hitting hammer 77a, and a
photosensor 77j provided with a light emitter 77k and a light
detector 77m is so provided as to face a rotatable range of the bar
77n.
[0067] FIGS. 16A and 16B show a portion of the token push-out
portion 77 near the photosensor 77j when the bar 77n is not
detected and when the bar 77n is detected, respectively. When the
hitting hammer 77a is retracted from the state of FIG. 16A to the
state of FIG. 16B, a bent portion 77u at the leading end of the bar
77n crosses a sensing area of the light detector 77m and the
photosensor 77j sends a return signal to a game controller 107 to
be described later. The rotary solenoid 77h rotates in a direction
reverse from the preceding forward direction in accordance with a
signal from the game controller 107 to return the hitting hammer
77a forward. A coil spring 77p for returning the hitting hammer 77a
forward is mounted on the horizontal shaft 77c as shown in FIGS. 14
and 15, and the hitting hammer 77a is returned forward by the
rotation of the rotary solenoid 77h together with an elastic
biasing force given from the coil spring 77p. Consequently, a
hitting member mounted on the hitting hammer 77a, e.g. a coil
spring 77q is returned from the retracted position D to the token
hitting position C. Identified by 77s in FIG. 14 is a stopper for
stopping the hitting hammer 77a near the token hitting position
C.
[0068] Further, as the hitting hammer 77a is returned forward, the
bar 77b is elastically deformed upon coming into contact with the
suspending piece 76c as shown in FIG. 9A, and this elastic
deforming force returns the token push-out arm 76c in a direction
opposite from the arrow direction E against the pushing force
acting in the arrow direction E. On the other hand, when the
hitting hammer 77a is retracted by the rotary solenoid 77h, the bar
77b is brought out of contact with the suspending piece 76n.
Accordingly, the token push-out arm 76c is rotated in the arrow
direction E, and the pushing portion 76d passes through the opening
57h formed in the facing member 57 shown in FIGS. 10B and 11 to
have its opposite sides held by the facing member 57 and the token
pressing member 76e as shown in FIG. 10A, and pushes the token 61
placed on the stoppers 72a, 72b in a direction of arrow F
(horizontal direction). Consequently, the token 61 is moved in the
arrow direction F on the stoppers 72a, 72b and dropped from the
ends of the stoppers 72a, 72b to be set in the token hitting
position C.
[0069] The rotary solenoid 77h starts operating by pulling a
trigger 78 provided in the gun main body 55 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0070] FIGS. 17A and 17B are front views showing a portion of the
gun main body 55 near the trigger 78 before the trigger 78 is
pulled and when it is pulled, respectively.
[0071] The trigger 78 is pivotal about a rotatable shaft 78a, and a
cam portion 78b is formed at an upper part of the trigger 78. A
microswitch 79 is provided above the trigger 78, such that a
detector 79a of the microswitch 79 is pivotally provided in
directions of arrows of FIG. 17A and a roller 79b provided at the
leading end of the detector 79a is in sliding contact with the cam
portion 78b. A switch portion 79c is provided near the detector 79a
of the microswitch 79.
[0072] Before the trigger 78 is pulled, the detector 79a is away
from the switch portion 79c as shown in FIG. 17A. When the trigger
78 is pulled, the detector 79a is pivoted upward by the cam portion
78b to push the switch portion 79c as shown in FIG. 17B, whereby
the microswitch 79 detects that the trigger 78 has been pulled and
outputs a detection signal to the game controller 107. The game
controller 107 causes the rotary solenoid 77h to start operating in
accordance with the received detection signal.
[0073] A gunsight 80 is provided on the top of the gun main body
55. The token 61 set in the token hitting position c is hit by the
hitting member, e.g. the coil spring 77q when the game player pulls
the trigger 78 while viewing through the gunsight 80. As a result,
the token 61 is discharged from the muzzle 51 through the gunbarrel
75 to fly toward the target units 10, 20, 30. The coil spring 77q
is provided to increase a force for hitting the token 61 since it
can undergo such an elastic deformation as to elongate after being
compressed. It should be noted that a leaf spring or the like may
be used instead of the coil spring 77q.
[0074] The aforementioned screening portion 10 and target units 20,
30 are constructed by mounting different interfering plates 10A,
20A, 30B on identical main units 10A, 20A, 30A constructed as shown
in FIG. 18 (exploded perspective view) and then mounting identical
covers 10C, 20C, 30C as shown in FIG. 19. The screening portion 10
and the target units 20, 30 are described in detail below.
[0075] FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C are a plan view, a front view and a
left side view of the main unit 10A (20A, 30A), respectively, and
FIG. 21 is a rear view thereof.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 18, a guide rail 12 is mounted on a
supporting plate 11 and a mounting portion 13 is movable on and
along the guide rail 12 in the main unit 10A. The guide rail 12
includes flanges 12d, 12e projecting outwardly from the ends of
opposite side surfaces 12b, 12c of a middle portion 12a having a
U-shaped cross section.
[0077] The mounting portion 13 includes a mounting member 13a
having a mounting surface 13b elevated like a table formed in its
middle and having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.
Guide rollers 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f are mounted near the four corners
of the mounting member 13a. The guide rollers 13c, 13d are in
contact with the side surface 12b and the guide rollers 13e, 13f
are in contact with the side surface 12c while the guide rail 12 is
held between the guide rollers 13c, 13d and the guide rollers 13e,
13f. As shown in FIGS. 20B and 21, three guide rollers 13x, 13y,
13z are provided at the front side of the mounting portion 13, and
three guide rollers 13x', 13y', 13z' are provided at the rear side
thereof. The guide rollers 13x, 13y, 13z are so arranged as to hold
the flange 12d therebetween, whereas the guide rollers 13x', 13y',
13z' are so arranged as to hold the flange 12e therebetween.
[0078] The supporting plate 11 is formed with round mount holes
11a, 11b at its opposite ends, and a motor 14 is mounted behind the
mount hole 11a such that a rotatable shaft 14a thereof projects
from the rear side to the front side of the mount hole 11a. On the
other hand, a driven shaft member 15 is mounted behind the mount
hole 11b such that a rotatable shaft 15a thereof projects from the
rear side to the front side of the mount hole 11b. The driven shaft
member 15 is provided with a tensioner 15b as shown in FIG. 21. The
tensioner 15b is comprised of a supporting member 15d secured to a
token entrance preventing cover 18 to be described later, a
tensioning bolt 15e rotatably mounted on the supporting member 15d,
a threaded bar 15c having one end mounted on the bolt 15e, an
internally threaded portion 15h for allowing the passage of the
other end of the threaded bar 15c, and a frame 15g formed with an
internally threaded portion 15f for allowing the passage of an end
of the shaft 15a of the driven shaft member 15. Thus, as the bolt
15e is rotated, the frame 15g and the shaft 15a are moved along
transverse direction of FIG. 21.
[0079] A main drive pulley 16a is mounted on the rotatable shaft
14a of the motor 14, a driven pulley 16b is mounted on the shaft
15a of the driven shaft member 15, and an endless belt 16c is
mounted on the pulleys 16a, 16b as shown in FIGS. 18 and 20. A
fixed piece 16d is mounted on the endless belt 16c. This fixed
piece 16d is fixed to a drive transmitting plate 13g mounted on the
front surface of the mounting member 13a, and is moved along the
guide rail 12 as the endless belt 16c rotates, with the result that
the mounting member 13a is moved along the guide rail 12. A moving
speed of the mounting member 13a is adjusted by the rotating speed
of the motor 14, and a stretched degree of the endless belt 16c is
adjusted by the rotation of the bolt 15e.
[0080] On the rear surface of the supporting plate 11, optical
sensors 17a, 17b as two limit sensors are mounted while being
spaced apart by a specified distance as shown in FIG. 21. Each
optical sensor 17a, 17b is provided with a light emitter at one of
its upper and lower sides and a light detector at the other of its
upper and lower sides. On the other hand, a detectable member 13h
having a U-shaped cross section is mounted on the rear surface of
the mounting member 13a as shown in FIGS. 18 and 20C, and a lower
horizontal piece 13i thereof is horizontally moved to pass between
the light emitter and the light detector of the optical sensor 17a
(17b). Both optical sensors 17a, 17b output a signal for switching
the rotating direction of the motor 14 to a target movement
controller 101 to be described later when light is blocked by the
horizontal piece 13i, and the motor 14 rotates in either one of the
forward and reverse directions in accordance with a signal from the
target movement controller 101. In this way, the mounting member
13a reciprocates along the guide rail 12 within a specific
range.
[0081] The token entrance preventing cover 18 is mounted on the
rear surface of the supporting plate 11 as shown in FIGS. 18 and
21. On the other hand, cover mounting members 11c, 11d bent at
obtuse angles are mounted on the front surface of the supporting
plate 11 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.
[0082] The main unit 10A is constructed as above, and the other
main units 20A, 30A are identically constructed.
[0083] The cover 10C (20C, 30C) is mounted on the cover mounting
members 11c, 11d of the main unit 10A (20A, 30A). However, target
raising members 29a, 29b to be described later and shown in FIG. 3
are mounted on the cover 30C.
[0084] In the main unit 10A, an interfering plate portion 10B is
mounted on the mounting surface 13b of the mounting member 13a as
shown in FIG. 19. The interfering plate portion 10b includes a
supporting member 19a having an L-shaped cross section and mounted
on the mounting surface 13b, an intermediate supporting member 19b
fixed to a shorter side of the supporting member 19a, and
interfering plates 19c, 19d fixed to the opposite ends of the
intermediate supporting member 19b. Sheets having a desired picture
or pattern are adhered to the interfering plates 19c, 19d.
[0085] In the main unit 20A, a target assembly 20B is mounted on
the mounting surface 13b of the mounting member 13a. This target
assembly 20B includes a supporting member 20a having an L-shaped
cross section and mounted on the mounting surface 13b, an
intermediate supporting member 20b fixed to a shorter side of the
supporting member 20a, and target portions 21A, 21B fixed to the
opposite ends of the intermediate supporting member 20b. The target
portions 21A, 21B are identically constructed.
[0086] FIGS. 22A and 22B are a front view and a right side view
showing the target portion 21A (21B), respectively.
[0087] The target portion 21A includes a supporting box 22, a
target mounting piece 24 which is rotatably mounted on a support
shaft 23 provided on the supporting box 22 between a standing
position G and a laying position H reached when being rotated
backward from the standing position G, and a plate-shaped target 25
fixed to the mounting piece 24. A sheet having a desired picture or
pattern is adhered to the target 25. A fixed member 26a is fixed to
the support shaft 23, and a substantially cylindrical stopper 26b
is mounted on the fixed member 26a in a direction normal to a
radial direction of the support shaft 23 while opposite ends 26c,
26d thereof project from an edge of the fixed member 26a. When the
mounting piece 24 and the target 25 are at the standing position G,
one end 26c of the stopper 26b is in contact with a stopping member
22a provided in the supporting box 22. When the mounting piece 24
and the target 25 are at the laying position H, an other end 26d of
the stopper 26b is in contact with a ceiling surface 22b of the
support box 22.
[0088] A light blocking member 27 having an L-shaped cross section
is mounted on the fixed member 26a, and an optical sensor 28 is
provided in a rotatable range of a bent light blocking portion 27a
at the outer side of the light blocking member 27. In the optical
sensor 28, a light emitter 28a and a light detector 28b are spaced
apart by a specified distance in vertical direction, and the light
blocking portion 27a passes between the light emitter 28a and the
light detector 28b. When the state of the optical sensor 28 changes
from the one where light which should be incident on the light
detector 28b is blocked by the light blocking portion 27a to the
one where light is incident on the light detector 28b, the optical
sensor 28 outputs a signal representing that the token 61 has hit
the target 25 to a token hit processing mode controller 110 to be
described later upon judgment that the target 25 is moving from the
standing position G to the laying position H.
[0089] The target 25 fallen down by being hit by the token 61 is
returned to the standing position G by the target raising member
29a when the mounting member 13a is moved outwardly along the guide
rail 12. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edge of
the fallen target 25 of the target portion 21A comes into contact
with a slanted portion 29c of the target raising member 29a while
the target 25 is moved in direction G, and the target 25 is thereby
gradually raised and returned to the standing position G upon
reaching a horizontal portion 29d.
[0090] The above applies also to the target portion 21B except that
the target 25 of the target portion 21B is returned from the laying
position H to the standing position G by the other target raising
member 29b. Specifically, the edge of the fallen target 25 of the
target portion 21B comes into contact with a slanted portion 29e of
the target raising member 29b while the target 25 is moved in
direction G, and the target 25 is thereby gradually raised and
returned to the standing position G upon reaching a horizontal
portion 29f.
[0091] In the main unit 30A, the target assembly 30B is mounted on
the mounting surface 13b of the mounting member 13a as shown in
FIG. 19. The target assembly 30B includes a supporting member 30a
having an L-shaped cross section and mounted on the mounting
surface 13b, a lower box 31 fixed to a shorter side of the
supporting member 30a, an upper box 32, a plate-shaped target 33
rotatably mounted on the lower box 31, and a light source (one lamp
39 in the shown example) provided on the upper box 32. It should be
noted that a plurality of lamps 39 may be provided as a light
source.
[0092] FIGS. 23A and 23B are a front view and a plan view showing
the target assembly 30B (without the supporting member 30a)
provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1; FIGS. 24A and 24B
are a rear view and a left side view showing the target assembly
30B; FIGS. 25A and 25B are a front view showing the target assembly
30B (without the supporting member 30a and the target 33) and a
section along J-J of FIG. 25A; and FIGS. 26A and 26B are a left
side view in section showing the internal construction of the lower
box 31 and a right side view in section showing the internal
construction of the upper box 32.
[0093] As shown in FIG. 23A, the lower box 31 includes a support
shaft 31b rotatably supported on a frame 31a, and the opposite ends
of the support shaft 31b project out from the frame 31a and
supporting pieces 31c, 31d are mounted on the projecting ends of
the support shaft 31b. The target 33 is mounted on the supporting
pieces 31c, 31d and is formed with a jackpot 33 which is an oblong
hole and a rectangular opening 33b. A meshed resin film (shown by
hatching) 33c for transmitting a light from the lamp 39 is mounted
in the opening 33b. An unillustrated sheet having a desired picture
or pattern is adhered to the front surface of the target 33. This
sheet is formed with openings corresponding to the jackpot 33a and
the opening 33b.
[0094] A spring 35a having one end thereof mounted on a spring
bracket 35 has the other end thereof mounted on the supporting
piece 31c as shown in FIG. 26B, and the target 33 is held in a
standing position M by a pulling biasing force of the spring 35a
and is fallen back to a laying position N when the token hits the
target 33. A fixed member 31e is fixed to the support shaft 31b
(see FIG. 23A), a stopper 31h substantially in the form of a
truncated cone is mounted on this fixed member 31e and comes into
contact with the spring bracket 35. While the stopper 31h is held
in contact with the spring bracket 35, the target 33 is held in the
laying position N.
[0095] A light blocking member 31f having an L-shaped cross section
is mounted on the fixed member 31e as shown in FIG. 23A, and an
optical sensor 34 is provided in a rotatable range of a bent light
blocking portion 31g at the outer side of the light blocking member
31f. In the optical sensor 34, a light emitter 34a and a light
detector 34b are spaced apart by a specified distance in vertical
direction, and the light blocking portion 31g passes between the
light emitter 34a and the light detector 34b. When the state of the
optical sensor 34 changes from the one where light which should be
incident on the light detector 34b is blocked by the light blocking
portion 31g to the one where light is incident on the light
detector 34b, the optical sensor 34 outputs a signal representing
that the token 61 has hit the target 25 to the token hit processing
mode controller 110 upon judgment that the target 33 is moving from
the standing position M to the laying position N.
[0096] The jackpot 33a is formed in the target 33 to allow the
passage of the token 61 having hit it. A wide rectangular opening
32b formed in an upper part of the frame 32a of the upper box 32 is
located behind the jackpot 33a, so that the token 61 having passed
through the jackpot 33a enters the frame 32a of the upper box 32
through the opening 32b.
[0097] Inside the frame 32a, three slanted plates 32d, 32e, 32f are
provided toward the bottom where a dropping hole 32c is formed, so
that the token 61 having entered the frame 32a is guided to the
dropping hole 32c by the slanted plates 32d, 32e, 32f. The slanted
plates 32d, 32e, 32f are located above the spring bracket 35, the
spring 35a, etc. provided in the lower box 31.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 26B, a pipe 32g for discharging the token
61 is provided below the dropping hole 32c, and a detector 36a of a
microswitch 36 is so provided in an intermediate position of the
pipe 32g as to project inside the pipe 32g. An outlet of the pipe
32g serves as a discharge port 32h. While falling down by being
guided by the pipe 32g , the token 61 displaces the detector 36a
from a non-detecting state O to a detecting state P. As the
detector 36a is displaced, the microswitch 36 detects the entrance
of the token 61 into the oblong hole 33a of the target mounting
plate 33 and outputs a detection signal to the token hit processing
mode controller 110.
[0099] Thereafter, the token 61 is discharged through the discharge
port 32h shown in FIGS. 24A and 26B and collected into a token
collecting box 82 by a slanted plate 81 shown in FIG. 4.
[0100] The slanted plate 81 guides the tokens 61 to the token
collecting box 82 except those having hit the interfering plates
19c, 19d. The tokens 61 having hit the interfering plates 19c, 19d
are guided by slanted plates 83a and 83b provided at the front
bottom side of the cover 10C to a dropping hole 83c formed between
the slanted plates 83a and 83b (see FIG. 4). A token detecting
device 84 shown in FIGS. 4 and 27 is provided below the dropping
hole 83c.
[0101] The token detecting device 84 has a pipe 84a for guiding the
token 61, and a detector 85a of a microswitch 85 is so provided in
an intermediate position of the pipe 84a as to project into the
pipe 84a. While falling down by being guided by the pipe 84a, the
token 61 displaces the detector 85a from a non-detecting state Q to
a detecting state R. As the detector 85a is displaced, the
microswitch 85 detects that the token 61 has been sprung back by
being interfered by the interfering plate 19c or 19d, and outputs a
detection signal to a control unit 100.
[0102] Thereafter, the token 61 is collected into the token
collecting box 82 by the slanted plate 81. In this embodiment, the
moving speed of the interfering plates 19c, 19d, that of the
targets 25 and that of the target 33 along the longitudinal
direction of the guide rails 12 (transverse direction when viewed
from the game player) are adjusted by the rotating speed of the
motor 14 and are so set as to differ from each other. An adjustment
of the relative positions of the interfering plates 19c, 19d, the
targets 25 and the target 33 can be made by adjusting the positions
of the optical sensors 17a, 17b as limit sensors.
[0103] FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the construction of the
control unit 100.
[0104] The control unit 100 is provided with the target movement
controller 101 for controlling the movements of the targets, a
light source controller 102 for controllably turning the light
source on and off, a display controller 103 for controlling a
displayed state of a display device, a time administration
controller 104 for executing time administration of the respective
elements in accordance with a timer signal, a ticket issuance
controller 106, the game controller 107 for controlling the entire
shooting game machine, a game mode controller 108 for controlling a
game mode upon entering it, a token discharge mode controller 109
for controlling a token discharge processing mode upon entering it,
the token hit processing mode controller 110 for controlling a
token hit processing mode upon entering it, first to fifth parallel
processing controllers 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 and a sound
controller 116.
[0105] The control unit 100 is provided with a CPU system and
controls the respective elements of the shooting game machine 1 as
the shooting game machine 1 is turned on and off and the operations
of the respective controllers 101 to 104, 106 to 116.
[0106] The target movement controller 101 is provided with a CPU
system, controls the operations of the respective targets upon
receiving a command from the control unit 100 or a signal from a
proximity sensor 8 and controllably rotates the motor 14 in forward
and reverse directions in accordance with signals from the optical
sensors 17a, 17b as limit sensors.
[0107] The light source controller 102 is provided with a CPU
system and controllably turns the light sources 17a to 17d and the
lamp 39 on and off in accordance with a command from the control
unit 100 or the token hit processing mode controller 110. The sound
controller 116 controls a sound output of the loudspeaker 8A.
[0108] The display controller 103 displays a specified score on the
display device upon receiving a signal concerning the score from
the token hit processing mode controller 110. For example, every
time shooting is made, points correspond to the hit target are
displayed on the display device 6a with 0 as an initial value.
After the initial value becomes 100 upon hitting the jackpot 33a, a
jackpot value which is a total of points added to the initial value
100 is displayed on the display device 6b every time shooting is
made until the jackpot is hit next time.
[0109] The time administration controller 104 executes time
administration for the respective elements in accordance with timer
signals from the specified CPU systems. For example, the controller
104 executes a specified time administration in according with a
signal from the optical sensor, a signal from the microswitch 79, a
signal from the photosensor 77j or a like signal. The administered
time data is read by the token hit processing mode controller
110.
[0110] The ticket issuance controller 106 discharges a specified
number of tickets each representing, for example, 1 point through
the ticket discharge opening 9 according to the score given by the
token hit processing mode controller 110.
[0111] The game controller 107 controls the entire shooting game
machine 1. For instance, the game controller 107 controllably
rotates the rotary solenoid 77h in forward direction upon receiving
the detection signal from the microswitch 79 or in reverse
direction upon receiving the detection signal from the photosensor
77j. Further, the game controller 107 gives an operation starting
command to the game mode controller 108 upon entering the game mode
to be described later, also to the token discharge mode controller
109 upon entering the token discharge mode, and also to the token
hit processing mode controller 110 upon entering the token hit
processing mode.
[0112] The game mode controller 108, the token discharge mode
controller 109, the token hit processing mode controller 110, and
the first to fourth parallel processing controllers 111 to 115 are
each provided with the CPU system and execute specified processings
in accordance with control programs shown in FIGS. 29 to 35 set for
the respective controllers 108 to 115.
[0113] The token hit processing mode controller 110 receives
contents of processings from the first to fifth parallel processing
controllers 111 to 115, changes and sets an order of processings of
the respective parallel processing controllers 111 to 115. Further,
the token hit processing mode controller 110 detects that the token
61 has hit the target 25 in accordance with a signal from the
optical sensor 28, outputs a signal concerning points to be given
(5 points) to the display controller 103, which in turn displays
the points (5 points) on the display device 6a while displaying a
value obtained by adding these points to the current jackpot value
on the display device 6b.
[0114] Further, the token hit processing mode controller 110
detects that the token 61 has hit the target 33 in accordance with
a signal from the optical sensor 34, and outputs a signal
concerning points to be given (10 points) to the display controller
103, which in turn displays the points (10 points) on the display
device 6a while displaying a value obtained by adding these points
to the current jackpot value on the display device 6b.
[0115] Further, the token hit processing mode controller 110
detects that the token 61 has hit the jackpot 33a in accordance
with a signal from the microswitch 36, and outputs a specified
signal to the display controller 103, which in turn displays the
same points as the score displayed on the display device 6b at this
time on the display device 6a while displaying an initial value 100
on the display device 6b.
[0116] Further, the token hit processing mode controller 110
detects that the token 61 has been directly dropped onto the
slanted plate 81 without hitting either the target 25, 33 or the
jackpot 33a after passing the interfering plates 19c, 19d when no
signal is inputted from the optical sensors 28, 34, the microswitch
34 and the microswitch 85 even after the lapse of, e.g. 1.5 sec.
following the discharge of the token 61, and outputs a signal
concerning points to be given (2 points) to the display controller
103, which in turn displays the points (2 points) on the display
device 6a while displaying a value obtained by adding these points
to the current jackpot value on the display device 6b.
[0117] Next, contents of the operation of the shooting game machine
thus constructed are described with reference to FIGS. 29 to
35.
[0118] First, as shown in FIG. 29, when the shooting game machine
is turned on to start the operation, a demonstration mode is
started by a command from the game controller 107 and a BGM
(background music) and sounds in conformity with the title are
outputted by the loudspeaker 8A and the lamps 7a as electric
decorations are blinked (Step ST1). Subsequently, a target moving
mode is started (Step ST2).
[0119] In this target moving mode, as shown in FIG. 31, the
interfering plates 19c, 19d and the targets 25, 33 are moved to the
right (Step ST10) and then it is discriminated whether the right
limit sensor 17a is on (Step ST11). If the right limit sensor 17a
is off, Step ST12 follows to judge whether an off-period is 4 sec.
or longer, i.e. the right limit sensor 17a has been off for 4 sec.
or longer. This routine returns to Step S11 if the off-period is
less than 4 sec. On the other hand, if the off-period is 4 sec. or
longer, a corresponding one of the interfering plates 19c, 19d and
the targets 25, 33 is stopped (Step ST13) and an occurrence of an
error is notified (Step ST14).
[0120] If the right limit sensor 17a is on in Step ST11, the
interfering plates 19c, 19d and the targets 25, 33 are temporarily
stopped (Step ST15), and they are moved to the left (Step ST17)
after waiting for 0.6 sec. (Step ST16).
[0121] It is then discriminated whether the left limit sensor 17b
is on (Step ST18). If the left limit sensor 17b is off, Step ST19
follows to judge whether an off-period is 4 sec. or longer, i.e.
the left limit sensor 17b has been off for 4 sec. or longer. This
routine returns to Step S18 if the off-period is less than 4 sec.
On the other hand, if the off-period is 4 sec. or longer, the
target (or interfering plate) is stopped (Step ST20) and an
occurrence of an error is notified (Step ST21).
[0122] If the left limit sensor 17b is on in Step ST18, the target
(or interfering plate) is stopped (Step ST22), and this routine
returns to Step ST10 to move the target (or interfering plate) to
the right after waiting for 0.6 sec. (Step ST23). This target
moving mode is executed by the target movement controller 101.
[0123] Simultaneously with the target movement control, parallel
processing is started (Step ST3) to enter the game mode as shown in
FIG. 30. It is then discriminated whether the token detecting
sensor 74 is on (Step ST4), and this routine returns to Step ST4
when the sensor 74 is off while the game mode is entered (Step ST5)
when the sensor 74 is on. This parallel processing is executed by
the game controller 107.
[0124] In the game mode, as shown in FIG. 32, the demonstration
mode is stopped (Step ST30), and a sound presentation is made for
the insertion of the token 61 (Step ST31). Subsequently, the
aforementioned target moving mode is started, the BGM for the game
is outputted and the lamps 7a and the like are blinked (Step ST32).
It is then discriminated whether the trigger 78 has been pulled
(Step ST33). Unless the trigger 78 has been pulled, it is
discriminated whether the trigger 78 has not been pulled for 10
sec. (Step ST34). If the trigger 78 has not been pulled for 10
sec., this routine returns to Step ST33 after a sound output is
made in order to urge the game player to pull the trigger 78 (Step
ST35). On the other hand, this routine directly returns to Step
ST33 if the trigger 78 is discriminated not to have been pulled for
less than 10 sec. in Step ST34. This game mode is executed by the
game mode controller 108.
[0125] If it is judged that the trigger 78 has been pulled in Step
ST33, the token discharge mode is executed (Step ST36).
[0126] In the token discharge mode, as shown in FIG. 33, the rotary
solenoid 77h is rotated in forward direction (Step ST41) and then
it is discriminated whether the photosensor (hammer sensor) 77j is
on (Step ST42). If the hammer sensor 77j is off, it is
discriminated whether it has been off for 1 sec. or longer (Step
ST43). If the off-period of the hammer sensor 77j is 1 sec. or
longer, the rotary solenoid 77h is stopped (Step ST44) and an
occurrence of an error is notified (Step ST45).
[0127] On the other hand, if the hammer sensor 77j is on in Step
ST42, the rotary solenoid 77h is rotated in reverse direction (Step
ST46), and the rotation thereof is stopped (Step ST48) after
waiting for 0.5 sec. (Step ST47). Subsequently, in Step ST37 of
FIG. 32, a counter for counting the number of discharged tokens 61
is incremented by one. The token hit processing mode is then
executed (Step ST38), followed by Step ST6 of FIG. 29. The token
discharge mode is executed by the token discharge mode controller
109.
[0128] In the token discharge mode, as shown in FIGS. 34A and 34B,
a hit flag of the target 33 representing 10 points is reset to 0
and hit flags of the targets 25 representing 5 points are reset to
0 (Step ST50) and then five parallel processings are executed
thereafter.
[0129] In the first parallel processing, it is discriminated
whether the microswitch (jackpot sensor) 36 is on (Step ST51) and
this discrimination is repeated until the jackpot sensor 36 is
turned on. When the jackpot sensor 36 is turned on, a sound
representing the hit of the jackpot 33a is outputted, the lamps 7a
and the like are blinked to notify the hit of the jackpot 33a,
points corresponding thereto are added, and a ticket issuance
requirement is given (Step ST52). The first parallel processing is
executed by the first parallel processing controller 111.
[0130] In the second parallel processing, it is discriminated
whether 1 sec. has not yet elapsed after the discharge of the token
61 (Step ST53), and it is then discriminated whether the optical
sensor 34 relating to the target 33 is on (Step ST54). The above
discriminations are repeated before 1 sec. elapses after the
discharge of the token 61 and until the target sensor 34 is turned
on. If the discrimination criteria are satisfied, the target-hit
flag of 10 points is incremented to 1 in Step ST55. A sound
representing the hit of the target of 10 points is outputted, the
electric decorations (lamps 7a and the like) for the hit of this
target are blinked, points corresponding thereto are added, and the
ticket issuance requirement is given (Step ST56).
[0131] The second parallel processing is executed by the second
parallel processing controller 112. In the third parallel
processing, it is successively discriminated whether 1 sec. has not
yet elapsed after the discharge of the token 61 (Step ST57),
whether the target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0 (Step ST58)
and whether the target sensor (optical sensor 28) corresponding to
5 points is on (Step ST59). The above discriminations are repeated
before 1 sec. elapses after the discharge of the token 61 and until
the target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0 and the target sensor
(optical sensor 28) is turned on. If the discrimination criteria
are satisfied, the target-hit flag of 5 points is incremented to 1
in Step ST60. A sound representing the hit of the target of 5
points is outputted, the electric decorations (lamps 7a and the
like) for the hit of this target are blinked, points corresponding
thereto are added, and the ticket issuance requirement is given
(Step ST61). The third parallel processing is executed by the third
parallel processing controller 113.
[0132] In the fourth parallel processing, it is successively
discriminated whether the target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0
(Step ST62), whether the target-hit flag of 5 points is set at 0
(Step ST63), and whether a missing area sensor (microswitch 85) is
on (Step ST64). The above discriminations are repeated until the
target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0, the target-hit flag of 5
points is set at 0 and the missing area sensor (microswitch 85) is
turned on. If the discrimination criteria are satisfied, a sound
representing the missing of the targets is outputted (Step ST65).
The fourth parallel processing is executed by the fourth parallel
processing controller 114.
[0133] In the fifth parallel processing, it is successively
discriminated whether 1.5 sec. has elapsed after the discharge of
the token 61 (Step ST66), whether the target-hit flag of 10 points
is set at 0 (Step ST67) and whether the target-hit flag of 5 points
is set at 0 (Step ST68). The above discriminations are repeated
until 1.5 sec. elapses after the discharge of the token 61, the
target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0 and the target-hit flag of
5 points is set at 0. If the discrimination criteria are satisfied,
a target-hit flag of 2 points is incremented to 1 in Step ST69. A
sound representing the hit of the target of 2 points is outputted,
points corresponding thereto are added, and the ticket issuance
requirement is given (Step ST70). The fifth parallel processing is
executed by the fifth parallel processing controller 115.
[0134] The priority of the parallel processings in the above token
hit processing mode is in the order of the first, second, third,
fourth and fifth processings. Since the token 61 may hit either one
(or both) of the 10-points target and the jackpot after hitting the
5-points target, all the parallel processings are continued even if
a certain parallel processing is completed. Likewise, since the
token 61 may hit the jackpot after hitting the 10-points target,
all the parallel processings are continued even if a certain
parallel processing is completed.
[0135] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 29, this routine proceeds to
Step ST6 to execute the demonstration mode. In Step ST6, it is
discriminated whether the proximity sensor 8 has been off for 30
sec. This discrimination is made until the proximity sensor 8 has
been off for 30 sec., and the targets are stopped and the BGM is
stopped (Step ST7) when the off-period of the proximity sensor 8
reaches 30 sec. Thereafter, in Step ST8, it is discriminated
whether the proximity sensor 8 is on. This routine returns to Step
ST1 when the proximity sensor 8 is on while proceeding to Step ST9
when it is off. In Step ST9, it is discriminated whether the
proximity sensor 8 has been off for 15 min. and this routine
returns to Step ST8 unless the sensor 8 has been off for 15 min
while returning to Step ST1 if the sensor 8 has been off for 15
min. If the token insertion sensor is turned on during the
execution of Steps ST1, ST2, ST6, ST7 and ST8, the demonstration
mode is completed and the game mode is entered. The demonstration
mode is executed by the game controller 107.
[0136] If the ticket issuance requirement is made in the token hit
processing mode, a ticket issuing mode is executed by the ticket
issuance controller 106.
[0137] As shown in FIG. 35, it is repeatedly discriminated whether
there is any unissued ticket (Step ST80). If there is any unissued
ticket, the ticket issuing device (ticket dispenser) provided in
the casing 2 is operated (Step ST81) and it is discriminated
whether a response signal has been inputted from the ticket issuing
device (Step ST82). In the absence of the response signal, an
operation signal is given to the ticket issuing device and it is
discriminated whether the response signal has been inputted during
2 sec. (Step ST83). If no response signal has been inputted during
2 sec., the ticket issuing device is stopped (Step ST84) and a
sound output representing an occurrence of an error or
replenishment of tickets is given at intervals of, e.g. 10 sec.
(Step ST85). Thereafter, a ticket replenishment completion button
provided near the ticket issuing device in the casing 2 has been
turned on (Step ST86). This routine returns to Step ST85 if this
button is off while returning to Step ST81 if it is on. This
routine returns to Step ST82 if the response signal is inputted
during 2 sec.
[0138] On the other hand, if the response signal is inputted in
Step ST82, the ticket issuing device completes issuance of one
ticket to reduce the unissued tickets by one (Step ST87). It is
then discriminated whether there still remains any unissued ticket
(Step ST88). Step ST80 follows if there still remains any unissued
ticket. On the other hand, if there is no more unissued ticket, the
ticket issuing device is stopped (Step ST89) and this routine
returns to Step ST80.
[0139] As described in detail above, the simulated gun according to
the foregoing embodiment uses the disk-shaped token 61 as a bullet,
and is provided with the gunbarrel 75 whose cross section along a
direction normal to the longitudinal direction in which the token
61 moves is vertically long and has vertical and horizontal
dimensions set substantially equal to the diameter and the
thickness of the token 61, respectively, the token hitting position
C set at the inner back position of the gunbarrel 75, the hammer
77a provided at the inner back position of the gunbarrel 75,
reciprocatingly movable between the advanced position where it hits
the rear part of the token 61 set at the token hitting position C
and the retracted position reached by being pulled back, and
adapted to hit the token 61 set at the token hitting position C,
and the trigger 78 for reciprocatingly moving the hammer 77a.
Accordingly, when the trigger 78 is pulled, the hammer 77a is
advanced after being retracted and hits the token 61 set at the
token hitting position C at the inner back position of the
gunbarrel 75 as being advanced. Then, the token 61 is discharged
through the muzzle 51 while being caused to stand by the gunbarrel
75 having a vertically long cross section. As a result, the token
61 flies in the air in its standing state. Therefore, the
trajectory of the token 61 can easily pass the target position.
[0140] Further, in the simulated gun according to the foregoing
embodiment, the coil spring 77q (elastic member) for hitting the
token 61 is so mounted on the hammer 77a as to come into contact
with the rear part of the token 61 set at the token hitting
position C. Since the coil spring 77q mounted on the hammer 77a
hits the rear part of the token 61, the token 61 can be flown with
a larger force as compared to a case where the hammer 77a directly
hits the token 61.
[0141] Further, the simulated gun according to the foregoing
embodiment is provided with the token inserting portion 56 arranged
obliquely upward from the token hitting position C and having a
slit-shaped opening, a pair of stoppers 72a, 72b adapted to receive
the token 61 to be used and inserted through the token inserting
portion 56 and spaced apart by a distance smaller than the diameter
of the token 61, and the discharge member 73 provided below the
stoppers 72a, 72b for discharging the smaller-diameter tokens not
to be used to the outside. Thus, when the token 61 is inserted
through the token inserting portion 56, it is received by the pair
of stoppers 72a, 72b provided below the token inserting portion 56.
However, since the spacing between the stoppers 72a, 72b is
specified so that smaller-diameter tokens not to be used drop by
passing between the stoppers 72a, 72b without being received
thereby. On the other hand, the insertion preventing means
(restricting members 70, 71) provided near the token inserting
portion 56 prevents the insertion of larger-diameter tokens not to
be used. Thus, the inserted tokens can be sorted and selectively
used.
[0142] Further, the simulated gun according to the foregoing
embodiment is provided with a pair of stoppers 72a, 72b each having
one end thereof supported while the other end thereof is hanging
free, and the token moving means (token push-out portion 76) for
moving the token 61 caused to stand by the pair of stoppers 72a,
72b on the stoppers 72a, 72b, dropping it from the ends of the
stoppers 72a, 72b to set it in the token hitting position C.
Accordingly, if the token 61 received by the stoppers 72a, 72b is
moved toward the free ends of the stoppers 72a, 72b to be dropped
from the ends of the stoppers 72a, 72b, it can be set in the token
hitting position C.
[0143] Although up to two tokens 61 can be inserted onto the pair
of stoppers 72a, 72b provided below the token inserting portion 56
in the simulated gun according to the foregoing embodiment, the
present invention is not limited thereto. The inventive simulated
gun may be constructed such that only one token or three or more
tokens are insertable.
[0144] Although the cross section of the hollow of the gunbarrel 75
for discharging the token 61 is long along vertical direction in
the simulated gun according to the foregoing embodiment, the
present invention is not limited thereto. The longitudinal
dimension of the cross section may be slightly inclined toward
horizontal direction within such a range as not to be largely
influenced by buoyancy.
[0145] Further, in the shooting game machine to which the simulated
gun according to the foregoing embodiment is applied, the
disk-shaped token 61 which is relatively heavy and is shaped to
easily fly is discharged from the gun 50 as a bullet. Accordingly,
the trajectory is likely to meet a target position and the aimed
position and the actually hit target coincide with a high
probability although it depends on the game player's skill. As a
result, the shooting ability of the game player can be reflected on
the shooting result, thereby making the shooting game more
ingenious and interesting. Further, since the optical sensors 28,
34 and the microswitches 36, 85 are provided as the detecting
means, the game player's skill can be securely evaluated by the
score detected by the detecting means.
[0146] Further, in the shooting game machine to which the simulated
gun according to the foregoing embodiment is applied, a plurality
of kinds of targets including the targets 25, 33 arranged in two
rows shifted in forward and backward directions when viewed from
the game player and the jackpot 33a which is an opening formed in
the rear target 33 are provided in the casing 2, and the respective
targets are reciprocated along the longitudinal direction of the
guide rails 12 (transverse direction when viewed from the game
player). Accordingly, it is difficult to aim at the targets by the
gun 50, which leads to an improved ingenuity of the shooting game.
Further, since the front targets 25 stand as a hindrance to the
rear target 33, the game can be made more ingenious and
interesting. Furthermore, since the interfering plates 19c, 19d are
provided before the front targets 25, the targets 25 and the
interfering plates 19c, 19d are moved at different speeds along the
guide rails 12, the game can be made even more ingenious and
interesting.
[0147] Since the gun 50 is installed such that the muzzle 51 can be
aimed in an upward, downward, leftward, rightward, oblique
direction or any direction when viewed from the game player, any
desired target or jackpot can be aimed at.
[0148] In the shooting game machine to which the simulated gun
according to the foregoing embodiment is applied, 5 points are
given in the case that the token 61 hits the front target 25 and 10
points are given in the case that the token 61 hits the rear target
33. Accordingly, the game player is tempted to aim at the rear
target 33 which has higher points, i.e. is more difficult to hit by
being interfered by the front targets and the like, making the game
further more ingenious and interesting. Further, points given in
the case that the token 61 hits the jackpot 33 are a total of
points given upon hitting the targets 25, 33, etc. until the
jackpot 33a is next hit by the token 61 after previous hitting.
Accordingly, the game player can enjoy an improvement in his skill
in the case that he can hit the jackpot 33a, which is difficult to
hit, with the token 61. Since the game player can get many tickets
in this case, the game can be made extremely interesting.
[0149] In the shooting game machine to which the simulated gun
according to the foregoing embodiment is applied, 2 points are
given when the token 61 passes the interfering plates 19a, 19b, 5
points are given when the target 25 is hit, 10 points are given
when the target 33 is hit, and the jackpot value is given when the
jackpot 33a is hit. However, according to the present invention,
the respective points may be set at desired values.
[0150] Although two front targets 25 are provided in the shooting
game machine to which the simulated gun according to the foregoing
embodiment is applied, one, three or more front targets 25 may be
provided according to the present invention.
[0151] Although one rear target 33 is provided in the shooting game
machine to which the simulated gun according to the foregoing
embodiment is applied, two or more rear targets 33 may be provided
according to the present invention. In this case, the jackpot may
be provided in each target or in one or more targets or may be
omitted.
[0152] Although the targets are provided in two rows shifted in
forward and backward directions when viewed from the game player in
the shooting game machine to which the simulated gun according to
the foregoing embodiment is applied, they may be provided in one,
three or more such rows. In the case of only one row, it is
preferable to mixedly use the targets 25 and 33 in order make the
game more interesting.
[0153] Although the targets 25, 33 are moved along the guide rails
12 (transverse direction when the game player looks at the shooting
game machine 1) in the shooting game machine to which the simulated
gun according to the foregoing embodiment is applied, they may be
moved in oblique directions or forward and backward directions when
viewed from the game player or may make a circular movement on a
horizontal or vertical plane or a plane inclined at an angle
between the horizontal and vertical planes according to the present
invention. Further, in the case of moving the targets in a circular
manner, the targets may be arranged not only on one circle, but
also on two, three or more concentric circles.
[0154] Although various targets are moved along the guide rails 12
in the shooting game machine to which the simulated gun according
to the foregoing embodiment is applied, they may be stationary
according to the present invention.
[0155] Although two interfering plates 19c, 19d are provided before
the targets 25 in the shooting game machine to which the simulated
gun according to the foregoing embodiment is applied, one, three or
more interfering plates may be provided according to the present
invention.
[0156] Although the interfering plates 19c and 19d are transversely
moved when viewed from the game player in the foregoing embodiment,
they may be stationary or may be omitted according to the present
invention.
[0157] Although the moving speeds of the interfering plates 19c,
19d, the targets 25 and the target 33 differ from each other in the
shooting game machine to which the simulated gun according to the
foregoing embodiment is applied, the present invention is not
limited thereto. For example, they may be all moved in the same
pattern or at least two of them are moved in the same pattern. In
such a case, the targets and/or the interfering plates arranged one
after the other and transversely moved in the same pattern when
viewed from the game player may be obliquely shifted to each other
or located at overlapping positions when viewed from front.
[0158] Although not clearly mentioned in the shooting game machine
to which the simulated gun according to the foregoing embodiment is
applied, the heights of the interfering plates 19c, 19d, the
targets 25 and the target 33 may be differed. In such a case, they
may be arranged such that the taller ones are located more forward
than the shorter ones, or the shorter ones are located more forward
than the taller ones, or desired heights are set regardless of
their positions along forward and backward directions.
[0159] Although the ticket issuing device for issuing the tickets
according to the result of the game is provided in the shooting
game machine to which the simulated gun according to the foregoing
embodiment is applied, a device for paying off medals according to
the result of the game may be provided according to the present
invention.
[0160] Although the tokens are used as flying members in the
shooting game machine to which the simulated gun according to the
foregoing embodiment is applied, coins, medals, disk-shaped or
substantially disk-shaped metallic members may be used according to
the present invention. The substantial disk-shape of the flying
members may be an octagon or like polygon approximate to a
circle.
[0161] As described above, the inventive simulated gun uses the
disk-shaped or substantially disk-shaped flying member made of a
metal as a bullet and discharges it forward and is provided with
the gunbarrel having the hollow whose cross section along a
direction normal to the longitudinal direction in which the flying
member moves is vertically long and has vertical and horizontal
dimensions set substantially equal to the diameter and the
thickness of the flying member, respectively, the flying member
hitting position set at the inner back position of the gunbarrel;
the hammer provided at the inner back position of the gunbarrel,
reciprocatingly movable between the advanced position where it hits
the rear part of the flying member set at the flying member hitting
position and the retracted position reached by being pulled back,
and adapted to hit the flying member set at the flying member
hitting position, and the trigger for reciprocatingly moving the
hammer.
[0162] Accordingly, when the trigger is pulled, the hammer is
advanced after being retracted and hits the flying member set at
the flying member hitting position at the inner back position of
the gunbarrel as being advanced. Then, the flying member is
discharged through the muzzle while being caused stand by the
gunbarrel having a vertically long cross section. As a result, the
flying member flies in the air in its substantially standing state.
Therefore, the trajectory of the flying member can easily pass the
target position.
[0163] The simulated gun is also provided with the flying member
inserting portion provided obliquely upward from the flying member
hitting position and having a slit-shaped opening, a pair of
stoppers adapted to receive the flying member to be used and
inserted through the flying member inserting portion and spaced
apart by a distance smaller than the diameter of the flying member,
and the discharge means provided below the stoppers for discharging
the smaller-diameter flying members not to be used to the outside.
Thus, when the flying member is inserted through the flying member
inserting portion, it is received by the pair of stoppers provided
below the flying member inserting portion. However, since the
spacing between the stoppers is specified so that smaller-diameter
flying members not to be used drop by passing between the stoppers
without being received thereby. Thus, the inserted flying members
can be sorted and selectively used.
[0164] Each of the pair of stoppers has one end thereof supported
while the other end thereof is hanging free, and the flying member
moving means for moving the flying member caused to stand by the
pair of stoppers on the stoppers, dropping it from the ends of the
stoppers to set it in the flying member hitting position.
Accordingly, if the flying member received by the stoppers is moved
toward the free ends of the stoppers to be dropped from the ends of
the stoppers, it can be set in the flying member hitting
position.
[0165] Further, since the insertion preventing means is provided
near the flying member inserting portion for preventing the
insertion of large-diameter flying members not to be used. Thus,
the inserted flying members can be sorted and selectively used.
[0166] Furthermore, since the elastic member for hitting the flying
member is so mounted on the hammer as to hit the rear part of the
flying member set at the flying member hitting position, the flying
member can be flown with a stronger force as compared to a case
where the hammer directly hits the flying member.
[0167] This application is based on Japanese patent application
serial no. 2000-014259 filed on Jan. 20, 2000, the contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0168] As this invention may be embodied in several forms without
departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the
present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive,
since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims
rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that
fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such
metes and bounds are therefore intended to embraced by the
claims.
* * * * *